Hitching device



(No Model.)

G. B. GOOMBS. HITOHING DEVICE.

No. 461,998. Patented Oct. 27, 1891.

19321316:- B C'oomlw Geo- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. COOMBS, OF PARKMAN, MAINE.

HITCHING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,998, dated October 27, 1891.

Application filed June 18, 1891- Sen'al No. 396,740- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. COOMBs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Parkman, in the county of Piscataquis and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Hitching Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in hitching devices for use in stalls or mangers; and the objects in view are to provide a cheap and simple device adapted to be easily operated by one hand of the operator for the purpose of hitching or unhitching halter-ropes of animals, thus leaving the other hand free to handle the rope.

A further object of my invention is to overcome the necessity of knotting the rope and to facilitate the operation of hitching and unhitching.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of a hitching device constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being in an unlocked position. Fig. 2 is a similar view the same being locked. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section. Fig. 4 isa detail of the operating-lever. Fig. 5 is asimilar view of the wedging-key.

Like numerals of reference indicate like.

parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a metal plate, the upper edge of which is inclined and provided with an inclined rib or flange 2. The lower edge of the plate is rounded and is provided with a correspondingly-shaped rib or flange The plate is provided at its center with a trans verse bar 4, the center of which is provided with an opening 5. At suitable points the plate is perforated, and through the same pass sorews for securing the plate to the side of a manger or stall, as will be apparent.

6 designates a curved clamping-bar corresponding in curvature with the rib 3, the adjacent faces of the bar and rib being grooved to receive the hitching-rope 12. bar 6 rises a guide-standard 7, which passes up through the opening 5 of the crossbar 4 and passes beyond said opening, where it terminates in a rounded end 8.

From the 9 designates a clamping-lever, which is pivoted, as at 10, between the converging ends of the crossbar 4 and rib 2, said lever traversing the plate 1 and terminating at its opposite end in a thumb-plate 11. The under side of the lever 9 rests upon the curved standard 7, and the upper side of the lever is provided with a longitudinal groove 13, in which is mounted for movement the key 14. By sliding the key toward the pivot 10 of the lever, it becomes wedged between the upper side of the lever and the rib 2, thus serving to depress the lever and force the standard 7 downwardly, thus clamping the bar 6 upon the rope. By sliding the key toward the free end of the lever the clamping-bar is elevated by a pair of coiled springs 15, connecting the bars 6 and 4.

The key 14 is provided with a dovetailed tenon 16 at its lower side and at its upper side with the head 17, said tenon fitting loosely in the correspondingly-shaped groove 13 of the lever 9. Between the end of the lever 9 and the key there is located a coiled spring 18, which normally forces the key toward the inner end of the lever. By pushing the key outwardly against the spring the lever is elevated by its springs, so as to release the rope, and by pushing down upon the lever, so as to release the rope, the spring 19 throws the key to the inner end of the groove, and wedgitself between the lever and inclined rib, locks the former.

Thus it will be seen that I provide an extremely simple and secure hitching device, adapted to be operated with one hand, leaving the remaining hand free to manipulate the halter-rope and manage the horse, and that I avoid all necessity of knotting or tying the rope and the subsequent troublesome untying of the same, which often causes great delay in taking the animals from their stalls.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a hitching device, the combination, with a base terminating at its lower end in a curved rib and at its upper edge in an in- .clined rib, of a clamping-bar conforming to and mounted upon the curved rib, a lever pivoted between the two ribs and loosely supported upon the base and bearing upon the clamping-bar, springs for elevating the clam ping-bar,- and a key interposed between the inclined rib and lever, substantially as specified.

2. In a hitching device, the combination, with the base terminating at its lower end in a rib, of a lever pivoted to the base, a clampingbar mounted above the rib and loosely borne upon by the lever, and means for lookin g the lever upon the clamping-bar, substantially as specified.

3. In a hitching device, the combination,

with the base provided at its lower end with a transverse curved rib and at its upper edge With an inclined rib, of an intermediate transverse perforated bar, a clamping-bar curved to conform to the clamping rib, a rod extending from the same and up through the opening in the transverse bar, a lever having 

